Ruby's Happily Eclectic Nursery

So often you see a space and can instantly give it a label - modern, Mid-Century, Scandinavian, vintage, glam - you get the picture. But the minute I saw little Ruby's room, I thought, now that's something different. Ruby's mom Lindsey managed to put together a space that is at once warm and serene, colorful yet calming, modern yet vintage, playful yet sophisticated, feminine but not over-the-top-girly.

How would you describe the look and feel of this room?I wanted something whimsical, vintage, and bright but nothing too precious. I tried to mix sentimental pieces with modern, for instance the quilts (made by a good friend's mom and Ruby’s nana) add warmth to the room, and my collection of Hagen-Renaker figurines (that now belong to Ruby) make me feel nostalgic. The welcome sign on the door was crafted by my sister-in-law. I also tried to juxtapose sparkle, like the chandelier and name banner, with earthy beige and raw wood pieces. I hope Ruby finds this eclectic nursery an inspiring place to play.

What is your favorite piece or element?My husband Nate and I refurbished a 1920's dresser we found at the Pasadena Rose Bowl flea market and converted it to a changing table. I never see changing tables I like! I kept the original painted floral accent because I love that it echoes the design on the rug. I also love the bulldog elements, like the Steiff stuffed animal (from an aunt), which are a nod to Ruby’s canine “brother,” Amos.

What was the biggest challenge decorating this room?The biggest decorating challenge was budget, as is probably the case with most people planning a nursery. Luckily most of the pieces were under $100 – even the glider (which is from Costco and very comfy!) The IKEA SNIGLAR is actually my favorite crib style and it’s only $69! It looks very similar to Land of Nod’s Anderson crib, which is $749. The wall-mounted bookshelves were a good budget project idea I got from Pinterest. They’re just painted IKEA spice racks! World Market was actually a great place to shop, and I’m a huge fan of the home décor boutiques on Highland Park’s York Boulevard. Etsy and flea markets are my standby's for decorating on a budget.

What do your friends say about the room?Most of my friends aren’t in baby mode yet, but the response to the nursery has been positive! My friend Tyler really liked the color scheme, which she says makes the room feel feminine but not girly. That’s what I was going for. I don’t enjoy it when kids’ spaces scream boy or girl. The room was a great pale minty blue-green when we moved into the house, and I added accents of orange, red, coral, and raspberry. I tried to do mostly red – her name is Ruby, after all!

Do you have any advice for parents creating a room for their child?When you start planning out a baby’s space, give yourself plenty of time! The one project I saved for after Ruby’s arrival was a felt mobile, and I have yet to finish it. If you find one piece you love use it to determine the color scheme and go from there. I got the rose-print rug first so I pulled the accent colors from that. I also recommend using something like Pinterest to compile ideas, and scouring blogs for online inspiration. Figure out what features look great but that will also be functional. I saw a rustic basket above a changing table on Pinterest, and I thought that would be very handy. I installed my own mounted wire shelf that holds diapers, wipes, and creams for easy access. Think about how things will function in your daily life.

If money were no object, what's your dream source?If money were no object I’d have a lot more art incorporated into the nursery. For example, I just saw some awesome wood-cut pieces by Crowded Teeth at local store - Leanna Lin’s Wonderland. And I’d also still say the Rose Bowl Flea Market - I’d just get pricier items!